Overhead monorail track suspension



June 25, 1963 R. F. DEHN ETAL 3,095,174

v OVERHEAD MONORAIL TRACK SUSPENSION Filed April s, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheetl JNVENToRs /Poy F .Of/4N BY HARRY A. Corfswa/wf/ R. F. DEHN ETALOVERHEAD MONORAIL 'TRACK SUSPENSION June 25, 1963 Filed April 3. 1961 4Sheets-Sheet 2 June 25, 1963 R. F. DEHN ETAL 3,095,174

OVERHEAD MONORAIL TRACK SUSPENSION Filed April 3. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENToRs /Poy F DEH/v BY HARRY/4. Cov-Swann yam-,4 W/W A TToRA/E 7.5

June 25, 1963 R. F. DEHN ETAL 3,095,174

OVERHEAD MONORAIL TRACK SUSPENSION Filed April 3. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4ATmR/vfxs United States Patent O OVERHEAD MON GRAL TRACK SUSPENSION RoyF. Denn, Wicklite, and Harry A. Cotesworth, Cleveland Heights, Ohio,assignors to The Cleveland Crane da Engineering Company, Wicklite, Ghio,a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 3, 196i, Ser. No. 100,214

Claims. (Cl. 248-324) This application is a continuation-in-part of ourcopending application Serial No. 10,700, tiled on February 24, 1960 andnow abandoned.

This invention relates to overhead track suspensions and, moreparticularly, :to exible monorail track suspensions having a hanger rodextending from a support member to a track member and securing the trackmember to the Support member in a manner which permits the hanger rod toswing with respect to the support member.

The principal object of 'this invention is the provision of a new andimproved ilexible track suspension which may be manufactured more easilyand assembled more reliably than the prior ant suspensions.

Another principal object of this invention is the provision of a new andimproved flexible track suspension having a longer life than theflexible track suspensions of the pn'or art.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a new andimproved liexible track suspension having a support member, a tracksupport, a hanger rod extending through an openin-g in each support, anenlargedconvex bearing surface at each end of the hanger rod, `and anannular thrust member 'encircling the hanger rod, interposed between atleast one of the enlarged convex bear-ing surfaces and the adjacentsupport mem-ber, and having a concave bearing surface for receiving theenlarged convex surface and an annular skirt extending into the openingin the support member adjacent the enlarged convex bearing surface topermit free swinging ofthe hanger rod and prevent wear caused by athrust member jamming against the hanger rod.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a new andimproved flexible track suspension having a support member, a tracksupport, a hanger rod extending through an opening in each support, anenlarged convex bearing surface at each end of the hanger rod, and anannular thrust member interposed between at least one of the enlargedconvex bearing surfaces and the adjacent support member and having aconcave 'bearing surface for receiving the enlarged convex surface and afrustoconical surface encircling the hanger rod to provide a larger areaof contact between the hanger rod and thrust member than is provided bythe prior art, thus eliminating undue stresses which are placed on thehanger rods in the prior art.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a new andimproved flexible track suspension having a support member, a tracksupport, a hanger rod extending through an opening in each support, anenlarged convex bearing surface at each end of the hanger rod, and anannular thrust bearing encircling the hanger rod, interposed between atleast one of the enlarged `convex surfaces and adjacent support member,and being made of a powdered metallurgy material having internal voidswhich are saturated by a lubricant to prevent galling and rusting of theengaged convex and concave surfaces which would impair free swinging ofthe hanger rod and shorten the life of the exible suspension.

A further objectof the present inventionV is the provision of a new andimproved flexible track suspension having a support member, a tracksupport, `a hanger rod threaded at both ends and extending throughopenings in the supports, nuts having a convex bearing surface threadedonto the respective ends of the hanger rod, an annular thrust memberencircling the hanger rod, interposed between each nut and adjacentsupport, and having a concave bearing surface for receiving a convexsurface and means for securing the nuts in position on the hanger rod,thereby providing a ilexible suspension which Iis more easilymanufactured `and more reliably assembled than the prior artsuspensions.

A further object of the present invention is the provision sion `of anew and improved exible track suspension having a support member, atrack support, a hanger rod having at least one end threaded, with `thethreads partially milled, extending through openings in .the supportmembers, and mounted in such a manner to permit the hanger rod ltoswing, and a setscrew engaging the milled surface of the hanger rod andsecuring a portion of the hanger rod mounting to the hanger rod, thusavoiding undue mutilation of the threads ofthe hanger -rod andpermitting releveling the track member and re-using the hanger rods.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a new andimproved annular .thrust member having an opening therethrough, aconcave bearing surface on one side adapted to receive an enlargedconvex surface of a hanger rod of a track suspension, and an axiallyextending skirt on the other side adapted to extend into an opening in asupport member through which the hanger rod extends to permit freeswinging of the hanger rod which would be prevented if the thrust memberengaged the hanger rod.

Another yobject of this invention is the provision of a new and improvedannular thrust member having a concave bearing surface on one `sideadapted to receive an enlarged convex bearing surface -on a Ihanger 4rodof a track suspension and an opening Itherethrough dened by afrusto-conical wall surface having its minimum diameter adjacent theside having the concave bearing surface adapted to engage the hanger rodover a relatively large area, in view of the prior art, to eliminateundue stresses on the hanger rod.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a new andimproved larmular thrust member having an annular socket member having1an opening therethrough and a concave bearing surface ron one sideadapted' to receive an enlarged convex bearing surface yof a hanger rodof a track suspension and a shell made of a material different from thematerial of which .the socket member is made, surrounding the socketmember, and having a skirt which is adapted to extend into an opening ina support mem-ber and deformable tabs on the skirt which are adapted tobe bent after insertion `of the skirt into the opening to secure thesocket in proper position to permit swinging of the hanger rod.

Other objects and advantagesvof the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art to which it relates from the following description ofthe preferred embodiment which is described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an overhead track systemsupported by the track suspension of this invention,

FIG. 2 is a view of the track suspension of FIG. l taken along the line2 2 thereof,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the suspension of FIGS. l and 2with portions broken away,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional View of a modified embodiment of thetrack suspension FIG. 5 is a side view of shown in FIG. 3,

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the annular thrust member shown in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of shown in FIG. 5,

of this invention, the annular thrust member the annular thrust member YFIG. 8 is a view of a portion of the hanger rod of FIG. 4 utilizing adifferent type of annular thrust member,

FIG. 9 is a side view of the annular thrust member of FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 is a top view of the annular thrust member of FIG. 9, Y

FIG. ill is a bottom View of the annular thrust member of FIG. 9, and

FIG. 12 is a planview of a blank used in the manufacture of the annularthrust member of FIG. 9.'

Referring to the drawings, llFIG. l is a view of an overhead tracksystem'embodying this invention and shows a track member 11 suspendedfrom an overhead support member 12 by a track suspension 10. The supportmember 1K2 may be a ceiling, a beam, or other structural member of abuilding.

The track member 11 is of a type well known in the art having an uppertransverse flange 14, a lower'ange 15 for supporting the wheels of acarrier or the like, and a weby 16connecting the flanges.

The track suspension 10 comprises a bracket 17, a bracket 18, a hangerrod 20, and annular thrust members 21, 22. The bracket 17 issubstantially U-s'haped, having leg portionsr25, 26 which are secured tothe support member 12 by suitable fastening means such as screws 27 andwhich are joined by a transverse connecting portion 28. The bracket 178is similar to the bracket 17 and is also substantially U-s'haped, havingleg por-y tions 30, 31. The leg portionsV 3i), 31 are joined bytransverse connecting portion 32 and are secured to the upper flange 14of the track 11 by suitable fastening means such as -bolts 33. Y

The hanger rod 20 has a shank portion 34 on the ends of whichV areenlarged convex bearing surfaces 35, 36. As shown in FIG. 3, theseconvex surfaces constitute one Vside of nuts '37 and 39. The brackets 17and d8 are provided with openings 38 and 40 in their respectivetransverse connecting portions 2S and 32. Tl'ieopeningsV 38 and 40 areconsiderably larger in diameter than the diameter of the shank 34 of thehanger rod 20, but are of a smaller diameter than the diameters of thenuts 37, 39. The shank 34 of the hanger rod 20 extends through theopenings 38 and 40.

The thrust members 21 and 22 are generally angular in shape and each isprovided with an opening therethrough designated 41. Each of the annularthrust members 21, 22 is providedwith an concave bearing surface or seat42 in one side of their body portions 47. The side of the annularmembers opposite the side having the concave bearing surface 42 has anannular skirt 43 which has an annularV diameter less than the diameterof the openings 38 and 40 in the bracket members. This annular skirt isadapted to be inserted in the openings 38 and 4t) in the brackets withthe surface 49 of the annular thrust members resting on the transverseconnecting portions 28, 32 in-therespective brackets, and is shown sopositioned in FIG. 3. The skirt portions thus properly position thehanger rod 20 for free swinging movement and prevent the thrust membersfrom jamming against the shank 34 of the hanger rod.

Y The enlarged convex bearing'surfaces 35, 36 on nuts 37, 39 arereceivedin the concave bearing surfaces 42 in therannular thrustmembers. The ends of the shank' 34 are threaded at 4.4, 45 to receivethe nuts 39,37. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 3 the nut 37 yis made fromround stock while nutr39 is made from hexagonal stock. Off course,either nut37 or 39 may be made from stock having other cross-sectionalshapes.

The nut 39 is provided with a setscrew 48 for securing the nut in properposition on the hanger rod. The threads 44 at the endfof the hanger rodwhich threadedly engage Vnut 39 are partiallyvmilled, thusproviding aflat portion 50 on the end of the hanger rod. 'Ilhe setscrew 48 istightened against the at 50 and thereby avoids mutilating the threads onthe hanger rod. Thus the hanger rod.

4 can be releveled or re-used, which would not be the case if thethreads were damaged.

Numerous ways of utilizing and assembling the suspension shown in FIG. 3would occur to one skilled in the art to which it relates. Preferably,the nut 37 is threaded onto the hanger rod 20. Spring pin 51 is theninserted through an opening in the hanger rod. Nut 37 is then backed upagainst the pin 51 to properly position the nut 37; 'I'he brackets 17,18 are properly secured to the support member 112 and track member 1-1.The annular thrust members 21, 22 are preferably Welded to the bracketsbefore they are secured to the respective support members. The hangerrod is inserted through the openings 41 in the respective annular thrustmembers and the nut 39 is threaded onto the hanger rod. With the convexsurfaces 35, 36 received in the concave surfaces 42 of the thrustmembers, setscrew48 is tightened j against at 50 on'the hangerV rod tosecure the nut l39 in position on the hanger rod. Spring pin 51 is theninserted through an opening in the lower end of the hanger rod. This pinwill `function to hold the nut 39 on the hanger rod in the event thesetscrew 48 and nut 39 loosen.

The convex bearing surfaces on the nuts will cooperate with the concavebearing surfaces on the annular thrust members to provide a ball andsocket type of swivel-joint. Thus the hanger -rod will be permitted toswing, as shown in the dot-dash lines in FIG. 3, and thus avoid unduebending stresses which would be present if the hanger rod could notswing.

In FIGURE 4 of the dr-awings a modified Vembodiment of the tracksuspension of this invention is shown in which each of the annularthrust members 57, 58 which are utilized have a concave bearing surface16?, similar to the `diameter 4thereof is adjacent =the concave bearingsurface 69 in the one `side of the annular thrust member 'and thelargest `diameterthereof is adjacent the other side of the annularthrust member opposite the concave bearing surface. The frusto-conicalsurface of the annular thrust members shown in FIG. 4 encircles the4vshank 34 of the hanger rod and is interposed between the convex bearingsurfaces 65, -66 and the respective supports 17, 18.

rThe size of the openings through the annular thrust members shown in-FIG. 4 permits swinging movement of the hanger rod, as indicated in thedot-dash lines of FIG. 4. The slope of the `frusto-conical surface issuch that the shank 340i the hanger rod 20 contacts the thrust membersalong a line extending from one edge 67 of the frusto-conical surface tothe other edge `68 thereof. Be-

causeV of the extent of the contact between the shankV 34V of the hangerrod and the ifrusto-conical surface theY hanger rod is relieved ofconcentrated stresses which would be imposed on the shank in the eventthe shank were limited in itsV swinging movement-by contact with onlyone edge of an opening such as the edge 70 surrounding the opening inthe brackets. The possibility of bending and breaking of a hanger roddue -tosuch stresses is thereby eliminated. Y Y h In themodiedembodiment of FIG. 4 the shank of the hanger rod is provided witha head 71 rather 4than a nut Y 37, as in the embodiment of FIG.' 3. Thehead on theV hanger rodshank in FIG. 4 is provided with the convexbearing surface 65 which is received in the concave sur-V face 69 of theannular thrust member `57. On the other end of the shank of the hangerrod there is positioned a nut 72 which has the convex bearing surface'66 which engages the concave bearing surface v in the annular securethe nut 72 to the hanger rod. The threads on the hanger rod shown inFIG. 4 may be milled to form a at portion similar to portion 5G of thehanger rod in FIG. 3 to provide Ia at surface against which setscrew 73could be tightened.

The lower thrust member is secured in position by machine screws 74, 75firmly engaged in openings in the leg portions of the ybracket and4bearing against the body portion 56 of the thrust member 58. The thrustmember 58 is thereby prevented from falling from its illustratedposition in the event the hanger rod would loosen because of any raisingof the rail member. Also, beca-use the annular thrust member is securedin position the likelihood of the thrust .member being broken bylowering of the track member when the thrust member is misaiigned withthe opening in the bracket 18 is -avoided.

The annular thrust members 21, 22, 57, -58 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, areformed of a compressed powdered metallurgy material which includesgraphite and internal voids which are saturated with a suitablelubricant. One such material is sold under the name of U.S. GraphiteGramix No. 258. The use of this material assures a reserve of lu-bricantto prevent rusting of the concave and the convex sur-faces. Since theconvex surface is preferably steel, the engagement between the convexand the concave surfaces does not cause galling to the degree found inthe prior art. These factors add considerably to the life of the hangerrod suspension.

The annular thrust members shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are also beveled at 76to easily clear the corners of the brackets.

Another modified form of thrust member is illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 12.lThis modified thrust member is indicated generally at 30. It comprisesa socket S1 having a concave bearing surface 35 for engagement with theconvex bearing surface 83 on the Shank 34 of the hanger rod. The socketmember may be formed of a metallic or a nonmetallic material, forexample, Micarta or graphite.

The socket is provided with an annular opening 84 therethrough which maybe defined by the surface of a cylinder as the thrust members of FIG. 3or may correspond to the opening in the thrust members shown in FIG. 4.It is shown of the latter form in FIGS. 8-12. Surrounding the socketmember 81 is an annular shell 82 having a skirt portion 88 which isadapted to be inserted in the opening in the brackets. On the skirtportion SS there is provided deformable tabs 99 which may be bent afterthe skirt portion 8S is inserted in the bracket to secure the bracket tothe socket member. The shell member S2 is made of a material which canbe easily welded to the bracket member to secure the socket member andthe concave bearing surface 85 in proper position with respect to theconvex bearing surface 83 on the shank 34. As shown in FIG. 8, theconvex bearing surface is on a head 71 as in FIG. 4, but obviously anut, as in FIG. 3, may be used to provide the convex bearing surface.

lFIG. 12 is a view of a blank 92 used in the manufacture of a shell S2for the socket shown in FIG. 8. In its illustrated position the blankmay be drawn to form the shell member shown in FIG. 8. The shell thencould be rolled as at 93 to secure the socket member therein.

While the hanger rod is secured in upper and lower brackets 17 and 18,as shown in the accompanying drawings, the hanger rod may extend throughan Iaperture in the upper ange 14 of the track member and an alignedaperture in the support member 12. In such a case the Ibrackets 17, 18are not used and the upper flange of the track member and the supportmember function as brackets and thus become support members. In such yacase an enlarged convex surface would be received in the concave surfaceof a thrust member positioned between the enlarged convex surface andthe ange 14 at one end of .the hanger rod, and the enlarged convex`bearing surface at the other end of the hanger rod would -be receivedin a concave surface of -a thrust member positioned between the convexsurface and the support 12.

It can now be seen that the present invention provides a new andimproved exible track suspension which may be manufactured more easilyand assembled more reliably and which has a longer life .than theflexible track suspensions of the prior art.

While the preferred form of the invention has been described inconsiderable detail, it will be apparent that the invention is notlimited to the construction shown or the uses referred to and it is ourintention to cover all adaptations, modifications, and changes whichcome within the practice of those skilled in the art :to which theinvention relates and the scope of the appended claims. f

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A track suspension comprising an overhead support member having anopening therethrough, a track support member having an opening insubstantial -alignment with the opening in said overhead support, ahanger rod extending through said openings, a convex bearing surface onat least one end of the hanger rod adjacent one of said support members,an annular thrust member having a circular opening therethroughencircling the hanger rod, said opening through said annular thrustmember being of larger diameter than said hanger rod to provideclearance therebetween, a concave bearing surface in one side of theannular thrust member receiving said convex bearing surface, and anannular skirt on the side of said thrust member opposite said one sideencircling the hanger rod and extending into sa-id opening in said oneof said support members, said annular skirt having an openingVtherethrough which has a radius substantially equal to the radius ofsaid opening through said thrust member and the center of which lies onthe center line of said opening through said thrust member.

2. A track suspension vcomprising an overhead support member having anopening therethrough, a track support member having an opening insubstantial alignment with the opening in said overhead support, ahanger rod extending through said openings, a convex bear-ing surface onat least one end of the hanger rod adjacent one of said support members,an annular thrust member having an opening therethrough encircling thehanger rod, a concave bearing surface on one side of the annular thrustmember receiving said convex bearing surface, said opening through saidannular thrust member being of larger diameter than said hanger rod andbeing defined in part by a frusto-conical surface having the minimumdiameter adjacent said side of said annular thrust member having saidconcave bearing surface.

3. A track suspension comprising an overhead support member having anopening therethrough, a track support member having an opening insubstantial alignment with the opening in said overhead support, aIhanger rod extending through said openings, a convex bearing surface onat least one end of said hanger rod adjacent one of said supportmembers, an annular thrust member having a circular opening therethroughencircling the hanger rod, said opening through said annular thrustmember being of larger diameter than said hanger rod to provideclearance therebetween, a concave bearing surface on one side of saidannular thrust member receiving said convex bearing surface, and anannular skirt on a side of said thrust member opposite said one sideencircling the hanger rod and extending into the opening in said one ofsaid support members, said annular skirt having a circular openingtherethrough which has a radius substantially equal to the radius ofsaid opening through said thrust member and the center of which lies onthe center line of said opening through said thrust member, said thrustmember and annular skirt being made of a powdered metallurgy materialhaving internal voids and impregnated with a lubricant.

4. A track suspension comprising an overhead support member having anopening therethrough, a track support member having an opening insubstantial alignment With the opening in said overhead support, ahanger rod extending through said openings, Va convex bearing' surfaceon' at least one end of the hanger rod Yadjacent one of said supportmembers, an annular socket encircling the hanger rod, a concave bearingsurface in one side of the annular socket for receiving said convexbearing surface, a shell surrounding saidsocket member and having askirt portion extending into said opening in said one of said supportmembers, and deformable tab elements on said skirt portion adapted to bebent after said skirt portion is inserted in said opening in said one ofsaid support members to` secure said shell and socket member in positionon said support member.

5. An annular thrust member comprising a body portion of a uniformcircular cross section; a circular opening extending from one side ofsaid body portion to the other side of said body portion; aconcave'bearing surface on said one side of said body portion; and anannular skirt extending from said other side Vof said body portion, witha smaller circular cross sect-ion than said body portion, and having acircular opening therethrough in alignment with -the opening throughsaid body portion, said circular opening through said annular skirthaving the same radius as said opening through said body portion and thecenter thereof lying on the center line of said opening through saidbody portion.

6. An annular thrust member comprising a body portion having a uniformcircular cross section; an opening extending from one side of said bodyportion to the other side of said body portion, said opening deiined inpart by a truste-conical Wall surface having its minimum diameteradjacent said one side of said body portion; a concave bearing surfaceon said one side of said body portion; land an annular skirt extendingfrom said other side of said body portion of a smaller circular crosssection than said body portion and having a frusto-conical wall surfacetherethrough which is a ycontinuation of the rustoconical surfacethrough s'aidbody portion. Y

7. An annular thrust member comprising a socket baving a uniformcircular cross section;.an opening extending from one side of saidsocket to the other side of said socket; a concave bearing surface onsaid one side of said socket; -a shell surrounding said socket; anyannular skirt extending from said shell adjacent said other side ofsaid socket and having an opening in alignment with the opening throughsaid socket; and deformable tab elements extending from said skirtadapted to be bent after the skirt has been positioned in an opening ina support member to secure the socket and shell to the support member.

8. A track suspension comprising an overhead support member having anopening therethrough, a track support member having an opening insubstantial alignmentY with the opening in said overhead support member,a' hanger rod threaded at both ends extending through said openings, arst nut having a convex bearing surface on one side threaded onto oneend of said hanger rod, a second nut having a lconvex bearing surface onone side threaded onto the `end of said hanger rod opposite said' oneend, a pair of annular thrust members having a single radius openingltherethrough encircling said hanger rod, one of said thrust membersinterposed between each' of said'nut members and the adjacent supportmember, a concave bearingl surface on one side of each of said annularthrust members receiving said convex surface on the adjacent nut, and anannular skirt on the side of said4 thrust members opposite Vsaid oneside and encircling said hanger rod and extending in-to said opening insaid adjacent support member.

References Cited in the le of this patent 2,262,200 Ptak Nov. 11, 1941

1. A TRACK SUSPENSION COMPRISING AN OVERHEAD SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING ANOPENING THERETHROUGH, A TRACK SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING AN OPENING INSUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE OPENING IN SAID OVERHEAD SUPPORT, AHANGER ROD EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENINGS, A CONVEX BEARING SURFACE ONAT LEAST ONE END OF THE HANGER ROD ADJACENT ONE OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS,AN ANNULAR THRUST MEMBER HAVING A CIRCULAR OPENING THERETHROUGHENCIRCLING THE HANGER ROD, SAID OPENING THROUGH SAID ANNULAR THRUSTMEMBER BEING OF LARGER DIAMETER THAN SAID HANGER ROD TO PROVIDECLEARANCE THEREBETWEEN, A CONCAVE BEARING SURFACE IN ONE SIDE OF THEANNULAR THRUST MEMBER RECEIVING SAID CONVEX BEARING SURFACE, AND ANANNULAR SKIRT ON THE SIDE OF SAID THRUST MEMBER OPPOSITE SAID ONE SIDEENCIRCLING THE HANGER ROD AND EXTENDING INTO SAID OPENING IN SAID ONE OFSAID SUPPORT MEMBERS, SAID ANNULAR SKIRT HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGHWHICH HAS A RADIUS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE RADIUS OF SAID OPENINGTHROUGH SAID THRUST MEMBER AND THE CENTER OF WHICH LIES ON THE CENTERLINE OF SAID OPENING THROUGH SAID THRUST MEMBER.